Chemiluminescent expulsion device

ABSTRACT

An improved dispenser for disseminating chemiluminescent particles from the air in a concentrated signal pattern which increases signal utility in conditions of high background illumination.

United States Patent Firing ..102/7.2

Gerber 1 1 June 5, 1973 [54] CHEMILUMINESCENT EXPULSION 3,360,426 12/1967 Cline ..240/2.25 DEVICE 1,791,716 2 1931 Davis et a1..... ..102 7.2 x 1,235,637 8/1917 Barlow 1 t ..102/7.2 [75] Inventor: Robert L. Gerber, Rldgecrest, Calif. 2,741,178 4/1956 Russell et a1. ..102/7.2

3,311,564 3/1967 Cline ..252/188.3 [73] Asslgnee' The Umed Amen as 3,558,502 1/1971 Tatyrek ..252/188.3

represented by the Secretary of the Navy, Washington, DC.

[22] Filed: May 28, 1970 Primary Examiner-Samuel W. Engle pp No: 48,625 Attorney-R. S. Sc1asc1a and Roy Miller 52 "U.s;c1. ..'...102 2,1'02/6,'102 37.6, i AE An improved dispenser for disseminating chemilu- [51] lnt.Cl. ..F42b 25/12 mlnescent partlcies from the air in a concentrated [58] Field of Search ..102/7.2,2,37.6; l h l 240/2 25. 252/188 3 s gna pattern w 1c 1ncr eases signa ut11ty 1n con 1- tions of high background illuminatlon.

[56] References Cited 1 Claim, 1 Drawing Figure UNITED STATES PATENTS PATENTEDJUH 5 I975 INVENTOR. ROBERT L. GERBER ROY MILLER ATTORNEY.

CHEMILUMINESCENT EXPULSION DEVICE GOVERNMENT INTEREST The invention described herein may be manufactured and used by or for The Government of the United States of America for governmental purposes without the payment of any royalties thereon or therefor.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION This invention relates to a device for dispensing chemiluminescent particles for increased signal utility.

Current systems for dispersing chemiluminescent materials employ explosives to spread the material. This type dissemination yields too large a signal pattern with the chemiluminescent payloads being too thin for signal detection under field moonlight. The present invention provides wide-area dissemination having a more concentrated signal pattern which increases the signal utility in conditions of high background illumination. This device prevents the breakup of the material into aerosols which is not desirable when chemiluminescent materials are used for target marking.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWING The single FIGURE is a longitudinal section of the device in accordance with the present invention.

DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT Referring now to the drawing, the subject of the invention comprises a cylindrical casing 11 having an integral end wall 12 which receives fuse housing 13 which contains a fuse generally shown by 14. Various types of impact fuses designed to fit the housing may be used which are initiated upon impact on a hard surface such as the ground. Also, a VT fuse was successfully used in another embodiment for dissemination at from 200 to 250 feet above terrain. A detonator generally shown at 15 positioned inside the fuse housing 13 is activated by fuse 14 which in turn initiates a black powder charge 16 mounted next to said detonator l5. Powder charge 16 produces a gas under pressure which ruptures housing 13. An O-ring-sealed cup-shaped piston 17 surrounds housing 13. The walls of piston 17 form an expansion chamber 18. Piston 17 is adapted to slidably move relative to the fuse housing. The aft end of casing 11 is closed by an O-ring sealed end cap 19, and a tail fin assembly 20 is suitably secured to the outside of said end cap 18. Fin assembly 20 comprises a plurality of conventional fins 21 secured in relation to each other so as to stabilize the casing during free fall. The space between the end cap 19 and piston 17 is filled with a chemiluminescent material 22. Filling the housing and securing the end cap was accomplished in an inert atmosphere, such as nitrogen, to prevent entry of oxygen with which the material reacts.

The chemiluminescent material used in this embodiment was a mixture consisting of 42.5 percent by weight of a peraminoethylene, 15 percent by weight lithium chloride and 42.5 percent by weight polyethylene. When the mixture is exposed to air the peraminoethylene is activated and produces light. Several peraminoethylenes which may be used in this formulation include tetrakis (dimethylamino)ethylene, tetrakis(N-pyrrolidinyl)ethylene, tetrakis(dimethylaminomethylene-amino)ethylene and others. Tetrakis(dimethylaminoethylene was used in the formulation hereinbefore defined because it is commercially available.

In operation as the device falls free of an aircraft or other airborne vehicle the fuse is spin-armed as shown by 23. Upon impact with the ground, the fuse intiates the detonator which ignites the black powder charge thereby creating sufficient pressure to burst the fuse housing 13 and permit gas to enter the expansion chamber whereby the piston moves against the chemiluminescent payload forcing end cap and the attached fin assembly out of engagement with the casing and ejecting the chemiluminescent payload. The expanding gas ejects the payload 30 to 40 feet in the air and the material settles to the ground in a teardrop shaped signal pattern.

Visibility during night operations while a nearly full moon was up was estimated at l4 15 miles. Sighting distances on a series of tests were 4 5 miles at 8,000 feet for about 10 minutes.

If it is desired to disseminate the payload 200 or more feet above the terrain the present device is provided with a VT fuse which is activated at a predetermined distance from the terrain. This device dispersed the chemiluminescent payload consisting of the peraminoethylene-based formulation on top of a heavy multilayered canopy consisting of tall grass, shrubs, and tall pine trees. ABout 50 percent of the payload was retained near the top of the vegetation. The resulting signal, 30 to 40 feet in diameter, could be acquired from any direction.

What is claimed is:

1. A device for disseminating chemiluminescent material from an airborne vehicle which consists essentially of:

a. a hollow cylindrical casing having an integral end wall;

b. a housing containing a fuse, a detonator and a gas generator charge hermetically secured to said end wall and projecting axially into said casing;

c. a cup-shaped piston surrounding said housing and being secured to the inner walls of said casing by O-rings;

d. an end cap closure secured by O-rings to the other end of said casing;

e. a fin assembly consisting of a plurality of fins affixed to the outside of said end cap closure for stabilizing said casing in free fall from said airborne vehicle; and

f. a chemiluminescent material consisting of 42.5

percent by weight of tetrakis(dimethylamino)ethylene, l5 percent by weight lithium chloride and 42.5 percent by weight polyethylene filling the space between said end closure and said piston;

whereby gas pressure created upon the initiation of said gas generator ruptures said housing and forces said piston against said chemiluminescent material thereby unseating said closure and forcing the material out of the casing. 

1. A device for disseminating chemiluminescent material from an airborne vehicle which consists essentially of: a. a hollow cylindrical casing having an integral end wall; b. a housing containing a fuse, a detonator and a gas generator charge hermetically secured to said end wall and projecting axially into said casing; c. a cup-shaped piston surrounding said housing and being secured to the inner walls of said casing by O-rings; d. an end cap closure secured by O-rings to the other end of said casing; e. a fin assembly consisting of a plurality of fins affixed to the outside of said end cap closure for stabilizing said casing in free fall from said airborne vehicle; and f. a chemiluminescent material consisting of 42.5 percent by weight of tetrakis(dimethylamino)ethylene, 15 percent by weight lithium chloride and 42.5 percent by weight polyethylene filling the space between said end closure and said piston; whereby gas pressure created upon the initiation of said gas generator ruptures said housing and forces said piston against said chemiluminescent material thereby unseating said closure and forcing the material out of the casing. 